Cartridge-reloading machine



Sept. 13, 1927.

E. P. SPENCER CARTRIDGE RELOADING MACHINE Filed DeG- 2. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVDQTOR E. P. SPENCER CARTRIDGE RELOADING MACHINE sept. 13, 192.7. 1,642,344

Filed Dec. 2. 1925 4 sheets-sheet 2' 25V. 3.9 f f il J fu N INVENTOR 13 '1927. Sept E. P. SPENCER Y CARTRIDGE RELOADING MACHINE Filed DeC 2. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I NVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNE'SS:

Sept.l 13', 1927.

E', P. SPENCER CARTRIDGE RELOING MACHINE 4 sheets-sheet 4 Filed Dec. 2, 1925 A'rroRNEY WITNES:

Patented Sept. 13, 1927.

STATES PATENT ortie.

ERNEST P. SPENCER, OF GRAMPIAN, PENNSYLVANIA.

CARTRIDGE-RELOADING MACHIN E.

Application filed December 2, `1925.

and reloaded with powder and the neces.

sary projectile.

An important obj ect of the invention is to provide a machine ofth-is character in which the various movably mounted plunger. elements for performing the different operations are not only adjustable in accordance with the size or sizes of the cartridges to be worked upon but also interchangeable so that the one machine may be used for performing the various operations, it being consequently unnecessary to have separate implements such as punches or the like tor initially removing the exploded primer or Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character in which the parts are so arranged as to insure a straight line movement of the plungers which act upon the cartridge case or shell and the projectile in contradistinction to other and well known type of devices which have a scissors-like movement which results Y in inaccuracy in the positioning of the proj'ectile within the case as well as the location of the priming cap, the movable plungers of the Vpresent device being all arranged in axial alinement and remaining in such position regardless of the movement thereof toward or from each other, as the case may be. under the influence of' the actuating levers.

A further object of the invention is to pro- .vide a machine of this character embodying automatically acting extractors which engage with the rim of the cartridge case or shell for withdrawing the loaded shell from the machine sub-sequent to the loading operation, the loaded shell dropping gravitationally from the mechanism. ywithout it tion.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character having an adjustment whereby the projectile may be caused to enter the shell or case to a greater or less extentvdepending to a certain extent or vdegree upon the dimensions of the projectile with respect to the shell or case, the

being necessary to resort to manual operaseriai No. 72,775.

other circumstances which may enter intok the equation.

Still another object is the provision of a machine of this character so constructed and arranged that the open end of the shell or case may be crimped about the projectile, or not, as preferred, this likewise depending upon the nature of the cartridge. i

`Other objects and advantages such as comparative simplicity and cheapness in manufacture, easy in operation, eiiiciency and durability in service, together with the general improvement in the art, will become apparent during the course of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine, a portion ot' the supporting table or stand being in section.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a. detail plan view ot the base plate.

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section through the lower portion of the machine showingthe ejector mechanism and the remaining portions or" the device used for decapping anl exploded shell.

Figure 5 is a cross section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6` is a viewv similar to Figure 5 butshowing the gate member in open posi-l tion.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal `vertical sectional view taken through the upper portion of the machine in the act vof applying a new primer or cap.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view with the shell of the cartridge shown in elevation.

Figures 9 and 10 are detail plan views of the swinging gate.

Figure 11 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the upper portion of the machine showing one form of mechanism for' inserting the projectile.

Figure 12 is a detail view of one portion ot the device.

Figure 13 is a longitudinal section illustrating a modification oi the means for inserting the projectile, and

Figure 14 is a detail view.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a support type or nature of the cartridge itself, andwhich might be a shelf, table or the like,

and upon which the entire mechanism, to be described is mounted. This support is provided with an opening 2 for the accommodation of certain of the parts of the apparatus or machine.

Mounted upon the top of the support 1 and secured thereto, as for instance by means of bolts 3 or the like, is a plate 4 constituting the base of the machine, this plate being provided centrally with a hole :3 and being provided at opposite sides .of its center with other holes 6 withinthe latter of which are secured spaced parallel. vertically extending rods 7 which may be formed in one piece or any desired number of sections and ywhich carry, at theirupper ends, a cross member 8 held in posi-A tion as for instance by means of nuts 9 screwed onto threaded extensions 10. Near their lower portions, the rods 7 carry a transverse element 1l held in place by nuts 12. A cross piece 13 is also mounted uponv the upright rods 7 at a point inunediately above the plate 4, and secured to the plate 4 at one end thereof is a handlemember 14 for a purpose to be described.` It should also be mentioned that the lower ends of the upright rods 7 are threaded and that one car-Y ries a clamping nut 15 located in the opening 2 beneath the plate V4 and thathth'e other carries a cap member 16 which 1s forked, bifurcatedor otherwise constructed forthe accommodation of a link or links 17 pivotedr therebetween as shown at 18 and pivotally connected at k19 with an operating lever 2O spaced from but cooperating with the handle 14 kand adapted to be squeezed toward the same as will be explained vhereinafter.

At their central portion the cross members 11 and 13 are provided, respectively,v with tubular guides 21 and 22 respectively within which is slidably mounted a plunger 23 having a forked lower end 24 pivotally connected at 2 5 with the lever 20. Obviously, owing toA the provisionof the link or links 17, there will be no binding at the pivot point 25 and nothing to interfereA with the sliding movement of the plunger. A t opposite sides, the plunger 23 is'longitudi'nally slotted as indicated at 26,. and located within the slot are elongated strips 27 notched as indicated at 28 so as to constitute ejectors adapted to engage .with the rim of a cartridge or with a flange or rim on an auxiliary plunger member, to be described, vfor the ur ose of movin@l the cartridge case, loaded cartridge or auxiliary plunger, as the case may be, downwardly when the lever 20 is moved downwardly upon the completion of certain operations to be described. Obviously, the strips- ,27 must beprevented from longitudinal displacement as for instance by means of Vthe elements indicated at. 29, and embracing the plunger 23 together with the strips 27 constituting the ejectors is a split spring ring 30. Screwed into the upper end of the plunger 23 is a tapered screw 31 which acts to expand the ejectors and make them conform to or correspond with the sizes` of the shells to be reloaded.

vRotatably mounted upon one of the rods 7 is what may `becalled a gate member 32 slotted as indicated at 33 so as to be engaged upon the other upright rod, a lat-ch device 34 being provided for the purpose of holding the'gate in position engaging lthe second n'ientioned upright rod. rlhe open position is well illustrated inilfigure (3l while the closed position is disclosed or illustrated in Figure 5. rthis gate member is provided centrally with an upstanding internally threaded tubular projection 35 within which may be screwed a barrel or chamber member 36 within which is slidably kmounted a plunger rod 37 having a flangedend 38 with which the extractor strips 27 may engage for providing an operative connection between the plunger 23. and the rod 37. At its upper end, the rod 37 is formed with a threaded socket 39 within which is screwed afp'lunger rod 40 which carries an upwardly extendingspring pressed pin device 41 capable' of being used for the purpose of removing an exploded l.primercap from a shell in a manner to be described. lThe shell is represented by the'letter A, the constricted end thereof is represented by B, and

the head, grooved or flanged in the custo-v mary manner is" likewise illustrated but by the letter C. y Y

Stationarily mounted upon the upright rods 7 is a transverse member 42 engaging against shoulders 43 on the rods and carrying a pair of set screws 44 orthe like which pass therethrough orv thcreinto and through slots 45 in a pair of plate members 46 rwhich are Aslidably mounted upon the-top of the transverse member 42 and which have `concaved and ribbed or grooved confronting edges adapted to clampingly engage against the flanged head C of the cartridge case from which an exploded priming cap is to be removedand into which a new cap is to be inserted. .Obviously, the adjustability of' the plate 46 is to enablethe device to accommodate and work upon cartridges of dii'- ferent diameters. i Y Y Above'the uppermost cross member 8, one

upright rod 7 carries a member 47 which,V

nected, at 54, with the upper end Vot a plunger which carries a die 56 located in axial relation to the plunger 40 and which is provided for the purpose of applying a new priming cap to the cartridge shell or jacket. Attention is invited to the fact that lthe cross member 42 is provided with an arcuate or curved slot 57 opening out to one edge so as to facilitate the engagement of a cartridge case or shell therein with the anged end portion of the shell engaged with the slidablyadjustably mounted plate 46 as `above described. This detail is illustrated inFigure 9 of the drawings. Y

At its underside, the transverse member 32is formed with threaded sockets 58 for the purpose of effecting connection or mounting of certain element-s to be described hereinafter.

In the operation up to this point, it will be observed that when it is desired to remove the exploded priming cap from shells, the shells are successively treated in identically the same manner,each shell being inserted in the slots 57 in thetransverse member42 with the grooved head or end there- Vof engaged by the adjustable plates 46. The

shell is thus held stationary. The various plunger devices `37 and 4() must of course be connected in a manner illustrated and as described above vand` initially the position of thelever 20 is such that the shell orjacket A. will be clearfof the plunger 40. kHowever, after the shell has been placed in position and is supportedby .the transverse member 42 in a. depending position, it will be "observed that the uppermost plunger member 40 will be located immediately below the shell or jacket-so that when the lever 20 is moved upwardly by squeezing it to- Wardthe handle 14 the plungers 23, 37 and 40will act to move the plunger 40 upwardly through the shell-or jacket, the pin structure 4l acting to remove the exploded cap.

uAfter the exploded cap has been removed,

r the new priming cap, the guide member 36 is removedfrom the tubular` portion 35 of the transverse member 32 and replaced by a ,guide member 59 screwed into the tubular portion 35 and maintained, in exactly the same manner as in the lirst instance, in the desired Vadjusted position by means of an adjusting or lock nut 60. The tubular guide 59 is of the proper size to accommodate the particular vtype orstyle of cartridge, rand it is intended, in actual practice, that the machine be provided with a kit or plurality of these guides 59 in order to accommodate and work upon cartridges of dilierent types and sizes. .The guide 59 is oi course provided with a chamber or bore 6l conforming exactly to the style or type of cartridge, and is also provided with a bore 62 tor the accommodation of the proper type of projectile D to be inserted within the shell Yor casing. Furthermore, the bore 62 may be so constructed at its juncture with the bore 61 as to exerta crimpingaction upon the open end of the shell or jacket in case such is desired.

l/Vhen the device is used for reloading or for, inserting aprojectile within a cartridge shell or jacket, use is made of a plate member 64 located beneath the transverse member 32 and pivoted at one end by means ot' a stud or screw 65 passing through the plate member 64 and engaged Within one of the. threadedsockets 58 in the underside of the Cross member 32. The plate member 64 is formed at one side with a hook 65a adapted to be engaged with a similar stud or screw 66 which is threaded into the other one of the threaded sockets 58 in the underside of the cross member 32. The purpose of this plate 64 is to support the cap end of the cartridge shell or jacket asl clearly indicated in Figure 11.

The central opening in the cross member 42 contains or is provided with a bushing 67 of such size as to accommodate a. plunger device 68 which has a reduced extension 69 slidably engageable through the bore 62 in the tubular guide 59. It should be stated that the upper end ot' this tubular guide carries a cap-like member 70 screwed thereonto, and` consequent-ly adjustable, which clap member is held in thedesired position by means of a lock or jam nut 7l likewise screwed onto the upper4 end of the tubular guide 59. The upper end ot' the cap or cup members 70 is apertured for the passage of the reduced end 69 of the plunger 68 as will be readily appar-ent. At its upper end, the plunger 68 is formed with a reduced extension 72 designed to be connected with the plunger 55 subsequent to the removal ot' the die member 56, the size or diameter of the die 56 and the extension 72 being identical in order that vvconnection may be readily madeand in order that the parts will be interchangeable asis of course necessary tor reasons of economy and convenience. Obviously, the bushing member 67 may be held in place by `a pair otl plates 7 3 quite similar to the plate members 46 used for holding the shell or casing during the decapping and recappingjoperation, the only dierence being that the confronting concaved ends or 'edges of theplate member 7 3 need not be grooved or ribbed as is .necessary for holding the grooved or ribbed end 'of the cartridge shell and the plunger member 68 is engaged with and recapped, the chamber member 36 is de-V tached trom the gate member 32 and is replaced by the chamber member 59, the particular member 59` employed depending ot course upon Lthe size or the'cartridge shell or jacket. The plungers 40 and 37 areremoved the plunger be. A shell to be reloaded may beinitiailyA lilled with the desired amount el powder and the gate er platev member 64k swung on its pivot (55 out of obstructing relation to the lower end of the chamber member 59's() that the cartridge, with the projeetilev placed lightly in the open end thereet, may be ,moved upwardlyinto the chamber-member 59, or'else the projectile may be inserted from the top, whichever is preferred, the position being accuiate in either instance. 'lhe swinging plate 6a. is then swung into its normal position with the hook at the end thereof engagingupon the screw GG, this plate `member acting as aA supporttor the flanged or head endoil the cartridge. The operator then graspe` the lever l and moves it downwardly so that the plunger 68, which has its lower end recessed as .indicated, will engage against the projectile I) andv torce the same downwardly into the cartridge to the desired extent. After this is done, the gate or plate member Gli-is swung away whereupon the lever is -moved upwardly so that the ejectors carried.- by the plunger 23 will engagethe liange at the end of the loaded cartridge and remove it from the chamber member 59. This operation is ot course repeated for each and every shell to be reloaded. i

In Figure 13 I have illustrated a. slight m-odilication in which the chamber member 59 corresponding to the chamber member 59 has a threaded extension 75 upon which is Vscrewed a cap member 7 6 through the upper end ot' which is screwed a plunger 77 locked in place by a suitable jam nut 7 8. In the operation ot this form, the ease is loaded -romthe underside of thetubular guide only and is not in any way connected with the upper plunger or 68. In loading by using chamber 59, case is charged with powder, projectile entered in case and then entered in guide chamber 59a, swingingmember 32 closed, and case forced into place by plunger 23 operated by lever 20, projectile swinging against threaded stop screw 77 threaded into cap' member 76 the elementf77 extending into member 59a. The principal difference between the two forms is, that in the iirst the projectile is seated from the top by up;v

per'plungers 68, 69, 55, operated by lever 51, whereas in the second the guide loads from the bottom, the projectile and case lbeing forced and Q3. v f

From the foregoing description and a study ot' the drawings, it will be apparent that I have thus provided aV comparatively simple and inexpensive machine for the purpose specilied, which will operate most et`- `liciently and which will eliect a great saving oi time, labor and material in the reloading of. cartridge shells oil the center tire. type.

1"vlv'hile Iliave shown and described the preferred embodiment' of the. invention, it

Vshould be understood that I reserve Athe right Vtogether by. lever andplungers 2O to make suehfchanges in the `form, construcupper transverse elements, a gate mem-k ber carried byltheupright .members, and means carried by saidv gate member ier receiving and holding a cartridge shell, said means comprising a -ehambered element having a chamber therein corresponding toY the *size4 and sha-pe of the cartridge to be loaded, means carried by the gate member andwnormally engaging beneath the chamber-member for supporting a cartridge shell therein, and meansconnected with thek upper plunger movable into the chamber member for forcing a 'projectilel into the shell.

2.. In a devicevot the character described, upright supporting members, transverse ele` ments carried by said upright 'supporting members, a lever operated plunger vertii 'cally movably mounted through certainof the lower ones' oi said transverse elements, a verti ally movable lever operated plunger slidably mounted through certainotlv the uppei' transverse elements, a gate member carried by the upright members, and Vmeans carried bysaid gate member tor 'receiving and holding a cartridge shell, comprisinga member having` a.ehamber of a size and shape 'to conforii l-nglyv receive a cartridge and the projectile l therefor, a movably `mounted support carried by the gate mem.

ber beneath the Vchambered member for supportingfthe cartridge therein, and means connected with the secondi named plunger adapted to ent-er the-chamber member for foreingthe projectile into the shell.

3. In a machine of the character described, a stationary support, upright members carried by said support, transverse elements connecting said upright members, a gate member pivoted upon one upright member and detacliably engageable with the other', a guide located at the center of said gate member, means for holding a cartridge within said guide, a lever operated ejector mounted beneath said gate member and movable toward and from the same, .and a lever operated plunger movable into the upp er end of said guide.

4. In a device of the character described,

- a supporting frame, a horizontally swingable gate member pivoted thereto, a guide carried by said gate member having a chamber adapted to receive a cartridge shell and projectile therefor, a pivoted' plate element on the underside of the gate member normally acting as a seat for the shell, a longitudinally movable ejector means located beneath said plate and adapted to be engaged with the shell, and a lever operated plunger movable into the upper portion of the,guide for forcing the projectile into the shell.

5. In a device of the character described, a supporting frame, a horizontally swingable gate member pivoted thereto, a guide carried by said gate member having a chamber adapted to receive a cartridge shell and projectile therefor, a pivoted plate element on the underside of the gate member normally acting as a seat for the shell, a longitudinally movable ejector means located beneath said plate and adapted to be engaged with the shell, and a. lever operated plunger movable into the upper portion of the guide for forcing the projectile into the shell, and an abutment element interposed between the plunger and the projectile Within the shell for varying the degree of movement of the projectile into the shell.

6. In a machine of the character described, a supporting structure, means mounted Within the structure for supporting' a cartridge shell, a plunger vertically slidable through the upper portion, a plunger vertically slidable through the lower portion in alinement with the first named plunger, said plungers coacting With the shell to decap and recap the same, supporting means operable to support the recapped shell, and means operable by the first named plunger fprlffecting insertion of a projectile into the s ie 7. In a machine of the character described, an extractor comprising a plunger, means for moving the same, said plunger being provided in opposite sides With longitudinally extending slots, strips mounted within said slots and having their end portions formed with heads adapted to engage the flange at the end of the cartridge, and a split resilient band surrounding the plunger and engaging said strips for normally holding them contracted.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

^ ERNEST P. SPENCER. 

